The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-16
AFFAIRS OF THE RAILWAYS.
Apps.,ine 20 the Commission.


WASHINGTON. July ia hearing was given
his morning. by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, in the matter of the Traders and Trav-
elers' Union against the Philadelphia Read
ing and the Lenigh Valley railroad companies,
all parties TO the case being represented by coun-
sci. and Mr. Russell p. Hoyt general manager
of the Traders and Travellers Union, being
present There was substantial unanimity
among the parties to the case in desiring an au-
thoritative opinion from the commission upon
the question of the right OF 8 railroad to recog
nize the certificates of the union and carry free
FOR the holders Of such certificates an amount of
baggage in excess OF that carried for other
passengers The operation OF the union sys-
GEM was explained to the commission, and it
was shown that its advantages were open to all
who might choose TO avail themselves of them,
the passenger securing free transportation of
extra baggage, together with insurance against
loss and the railroad being relieved from re-
sponsi bity in case of loss or injury, and secur-
Ing an additional safeguard against fraud on the
part Of it's employees. The decision OF the COM
mission was reserved.
The commission has decioed that any railroad
lying wholly within one Stete. but which makes
rates and issues bills to points in another State.
10, far that traffic is concerned. subjected to
the provisions of the Interstate law
The Central Vermont railroad, the goth OF
June, gave notice of an advance of freight rates
TO take effect July 5. Chaplin e. Co., of Milwau-
kee. claimed under the interstate law, the right
20 ten days notice Mr. John Porteus, general
manager. in his reply said: II do not know OF
any clause in the law requiring ten days notice
from Milwaukee to New England points" Chap
in d. Co. sent this reply to the Interstate Com
mission, and Mr.. Porteus has been informed by
the commission that the law does require ten
days notice and must be complied with
The commission expect to be able to conclude
all public hearings which parties desire TO bring
forward before the close of this month. About
Aug. 1, recess will be taken SO far as public
hearin gs concerned, the bureau work being
continued at Washington as usual, while the
com mission expect to visit various portions OF
the Northern States, where public sessions will
be held The dressed beef cases will probably
be heard at Chicago, and other questions relat-
ing to North western roads may be taken up at
Minneapolis.
Trouble Brewing Over East-Bound Rates.
The executive committee of the trunk lines
have for a couple of days this week been
sidering the question to what shall be done to
bring about better maintenance Of rates ON
live stock shipped from western points. They
are also more or less troubled about east-bound
rates generally. One of the chief disturbing ele-
ments Ia the Wabash receiver. McNulta, showing
adisposition to take very independent stand in
the matter Of rates Some time ago Mr. Tai
mage, the late general manager. of that road,
issued new tariff on east bound freights, max
Ing the basis one and one half cent per hundred
weight below the established trunk-line rate.
He sent the freight attracted by the new tariff
over the wabash and Lehigh Valley line," via
the Eel River road from Chicago then over the
Wabash TO Detroit, where it was delivered to
the Grand Trunk, which transferred it to the
Lehieh Valley at Niagara Falls AS soon as the
reduction became generally known other
Western roads were urged by ship
pers to make concessions. too. They
refused. however, but united in a request to the
Grand Trunk to raise the billing rates all
such freight delivered it by the Wabash. Mean
while the trunk lines requested the Lenigh VAL
ley to use its influence with the Grand Trunk to
the same end. AS a result, the Grand Trunk
urged Manager Talmage to withdraw his tariff,
which he promised to do after ten days, being
required TO give that length of time notice in
consequence Of the Interstate law He gave the
order revoking the cut-rate tariff only day be-
fore his death. But the Wabash had twenty
days "pulp at the business and in that time its
traffic limited only by it's supply Of cars
Manager Talmaee made the very good explana-
zion that he had line of railroad and no business,
and If he could not get traffic at the established
rates he must get it as he could This idea has
taken possession of Receiver McNulta, who has
made it the reason for setting aside the inter-
state law in the matter of long and short hauls.
1t is believed he will not hesitate to follow the
course of Mr.. Talmage. IL the Wabash should
fail to get IT'S share Of the new grain movement,
which 10 expected to begin the latter part Of the
month.